Folding table



April 27 1926. 1,582,380

H. W. CARPENTER ET AL FOLDING TABLE Filed June 18, 1925 2 SheetS- -Sheet 1 725%Ka garw/ar )5? FL 15 00.

Gamma -April 27 {1926; 1,582,380

H. w. CARPENTER ET AL FOLDING TABLE Filed Jun 1 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I .a/g gala Lg Patented Apr, 27, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RERBERT w. CARPENTER AND RonAIJn v. neon, or BYERs, TEXAS.

FOLDING TABLE.

Application filed June 18, 1925. Serial No. 38,010.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HERBERT W. CARPEN- TER .and RONALD V. LIGON, citizens of the United States, residing at Byers, in the 6 county of Clay'and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the. following is a specification. r

This invention relates to improvements in folding tables and is more particularl adapted for use upon automobiles.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a folding table which includes a frame and a hinged table top, the frame being adapted to be secured to the back of the front seat of the automobile, there being hinged braces associated with the frame and the table top whereby the table top may be swung upwardly to a level position when it is desired to use the table, the bracing means being normally concealed between the underside of the table top and the frame, when the table is in its folded position, so that the same will not occupy much space or interfere with persons entering or leaving the back seat of an automobile.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding table of the above mentioned character, .which may be used for various purposes, the hinged bracing means provided for the table top being adjustable so that the same may be lengthened or shortened depending upon the slope or incline' of the back of the front seat, so as to maintain the table top in a substantially horizontal position when it is desired to use the table. i

A further object is to provide a folding able for automobiles of the above mentioned character, which includes means for securing the table top against upwardly swinging movement, when the same is not in use.

A further object is to provide a folding table of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive,

- strong and durable, and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following-detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in which like reference characters designate like parts.

throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the folding table embodying our invention, showing the same attached to the rear of the front seat of an automobile, the table being in position for use Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the table when the same is, in its operative position. i a

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail, of the connection between the table top and the frame.

Figure 4: is a front elevation, showing the table top in its raised position.

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of a portion of one of the braces, and

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of the adjusting securing means associated with the braces.

In the drawing, wherein for 11 purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral 1 designates a substantially U-shaped frame,

the arms 2-and 3 thereof respectively being provided with laterally extending apertured ears such as are shown at 4, adjacent the upper free ends thereof, whereby the same may be secured to the back of the front seat of any conventional type of automobile, designated generally by the numeral 8.

The table top forming a part of the present invention isindicated at 5. The upper edge of the table top is adapted to be hingedly supported between the upper free ends of the arms of the U-shaped frame 1,

and to this end there is formed on the under side of the table top adjacent the upper side edge thereof the depending portion 6, the same being of such length as to fit between the inner opposed faces of the ends of the arms 2 and 3 of the frame and suitable pivot pins 7 are associated with the respective ends of the depending portion 6 and the upper ends of the arms of the frame. The table top is of such size as to fit flush against the front faces of the arms and base 8 of the substantially U-shaped frame 1, when the table top is in its downwardly inoperative position. A ledge 9 extends around the edges ofthe table top for the purpose of fill preventing the accidental displacement of the various articles placed on the table top,

Extending from the opposite end of each of the flat bar members is the elongated reduced portion 14;

An arm 15 is hingedly secured at its upper end to the under side of the table top 5 adjacent the free edge portion-thereof as is illustrated at 16. A similar arm 17 is hingedly secured, at its lower end to the base portion 8 of the U-shaped frame 1, between the upstanding ears 18. Each of the aforementioned arms is providcd with the longi tudinally extending slot 19, which extends from the free end of the arm to'substantia-lly a point adjacent the hinged end thereof and the opposite side edges of these slots are grooved, asillustrated at 20, to accommodate the rounded sides 21 of the extension 14 formed on the outer ends of the respective flat bar members 11 and 12 respectively, the extension of the flat bar memberll being adapted for slidable movement in the arm 15, whereas the elongated extension formed on the free end of the other flat bar member 12 is adapted for slidable engagement in the slotted arm 17. 1

For the purpose of adjustably securing the reduced extension in the respective arms, in'

which the same are slidable, there is provided a metallic band or sleeve 22, the same encircling each of the arms adjacent the free end thereof. One end portion of the substantially rectangular sleeve or band,22 is provided with a threaded recess 23 for receiving the set screw 24, the inner end thereof being adapted to engage the adjacent edge of the respective arms so as to cause the free ends of each of thearms to be brought into binding engagement with the rounded side edges of the reduced extensions of the respective flat bar members, thus adjustably securing the reduced extensions of the flat bar members in the arms.

The purpose of adjusting the length of the bracing means in the manner as above described, enables the bracing means to coincide with the slope or incline ofthe back of the front seat, so that when the table top is raised to its level horizontal position for use, the table top will be hinged in the horizontal position, and thus properly support anything which may be placed thereon.

When the table top is not in use, die same will be disposed downwardly adjacent the front face of the frame, and the hinged braces will be disposed in a folded position between the under side of the table top and the back of the front seat of an automobile,

in an entirely concealed manner.

Forthe purpose of preventing the upward swinging movement of the table top, when the table is not in use, there is provided a suitable securing means, the same consisting of a notched plate 25, which depends from the free edge of the table top and a suitable thumb screw 26 is threaded 'into the bottom of the intermediate portion of the face of the U-shaped frame 1, said thumb screw being adapted to extend through the notch provided in the plate 9, and by tightenin the thumb screw, the head thereof will rmly engage the plate and thereby securely hold the table top in its locked position.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description that a folding table has been provided which may be readily and easily installed on an automobile, and when not in use the table will not, in any way, interfere with the person leaving or entering the rear of the automobile. The simplicity with which the present device is constructed enables the same to be readily set up in osition for use whenever it is desired, and t e bracing means for the table top will hold the latter in its proper level position, regardless of the inclination or slope of the back of the front of the automobile.

While we have shown the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangment of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the in-. vention or the.seope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A folding table for automobiles comprising a substantially U- shaped frame adapted to be secured to the back of the front seat of an automobile, a table top hinged at its upper edge to the upper ends of the arms of the U-shaped frame, said table top adapted to fit against the frame when in its downward inoperative position, and bracing means for supporting the table top in its raised level position, the same comprlsing a pair of flat bar members hingedly securedv together at their inner adjacent ends, a pair of slotted arms secured at their outer ends \t0 the free portion of the table top and the base of the substantially U-shaped frame respectively, reduced extensions formed on the outer ends of said flat bar members and slidable in the respective slotted arms, and means for adjustably securing the reduced extensions of the bar members in the respective slotted arms.

2. A foldin prising a su stantially U-shaped frame table for automobiles comadapted to be secured to the back of the front seat of an antomobile, a table top hinged at its upper edge to the upper ends of the arms of the U-shaped frame, said table top adapted to fit against the frame when in its downward inoperativeposition, and bracing means for supporting the table top in its raised level position, the same comprising a pair of fiat bar members hingedly secured together at their inner adjacent ends, a pair of slotted arms securedat their outer ends to the free portion of the table top and the base of the substantially U-shaped frame respectively, reduced extensions formed on the outer ends of said flat bar members and slidable in the respective slotted arms,,and means for adjustably securing the reduced extensions of the bar members in the respective slotted arms, said bracing means being adapted to be folded and concealed within the under side of the tabletop and the back of the front of the automobile, when the table top is in its downward inoperative position, and means for securing the table top against upward swinging movement.

In testimony whereof we a our signatures.

HERBERT W. oanrnnrne.

RQNALD v. arson. 

